Bahraini Youth Killed by Police Vehicle

16 year old Ali Yousif AlSatrawi was killed last night after a police vehicle crashed into him on Saturday morning during protests in Manama. Ali al-Satrawi died at the scene “due to injuries sustained after being pinned under the police car before it crashed into a wall”, as authorities stated the driver lost control due to an oil patch. This puts the death toll at 40 since the uprising began in February. The violence comes as U.S. and British warned their citizens of increasing violence in Bahrain, and before a highly anticipated report on the increasing violence is due to come out soon. U.S. State Department spokesperson noted in a daily press briefing that “we are concerned that it’s a very volatile situation, remains a volatile situation on the ground, and we want to call American citizens’ attention to that” and “We remain very concerned about the rising tension in Bahrain.”

The violence also comes as an international panel is due to release a highly anticipated report on the rising tension in Bahrain, which will affect the proposed U.S.-Bahraini arms sale. A U.S. government audit on Friday “found inadequate monitoring of American weapons sales to Persian Gulf countries with questionable human rights records or recent clashes with protesters.” The Government Accountability Office said gaps existed in the State and Defense Departments’ monitoring of arms and equipment after it is sold, and the report expressed concern over how the U.S. government ensures the proper use of equipment in “Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates”